Sell my broken car in Aberdeen

Broken cars are awkward to sell privately: nobody can test drive them, and buyers expect a heavy discount for the unknown. We take that uncertainty away. Tell us the reg, the postcode in Aberdeen and what went wrong, and we price the car as it stands, parts and all.

There is no collection charge and no admin fee. The journey from Fort William is already allowed for in the figure we quote, and that figure is what you are paid if the car matches your description. We collect from driveways, streets, garages and car parks around Aberdeen, wherever a recovery vehicle can reach.

Aberdeen is the furthest Scottish city we cover, about 160 miles from our Fort William base. Jobs in the city and nearby Aberdeenshire are grouped into scheduled runs, so the wait is longer than in the central belt. We agree the collection date when you accept the price, and the car can stay where it is until then. Postcodes, districts and how collection runs in Aberdeen are on our Aberdeen collection page.

Getting a firm price for a car with a fault

The price for a broken car depends on what is wrong, so the description matters more than it does for a plain scrap car. Start with the basics: does the engine turn over, does it start and cut out, or is it completely dead? List the warning lights on the dashboard. If a garage has looked at it, pass on what they found, whether that is fault codes, an MOT failure sheet or a repair estimate. Tell us whether the car rolls, steers and brakes, because that affects loading. Mention anything already replaced or removed. With that information we can give you one firm figure, and it is the figure you are paid if the car matches your description.

When selling a broken car makes more sense than fixing it

Owners often put off the decision, and a broken car sitting on the drive only loses value: batteries go flat, brakes seize and tyres crack. Deciding sooner keeps more options open. If the repair bill is more than the car is worth to you, selling it as it is avoids spending money you will not get back. If you might fix it, get a firm price from us first, so you know what the car is worth unrepaired before you commit. The quote costs nothing and there is no obligation. Collection from Aberdeen is free when you accept, and payment is by bank transfer to an account in your name.

Getting a non-runner ready for collection

A car that will not run is loaded onto a recovery vehicle, so the engine does not matter, but access does. The driver needs to reach the car, so tell us in advance if the wheels will not turn, the handbrake has seized, a tyre is flat or the steering lock is on without a key. Clear a path if the car is in a garage or tucked behind another vehicle. Until collection day, a car kept on a street in Aberdeen must be taxed, insured and have a valid MOT. Remove your belongings. After collection, tell the DVLA online or with the yellow V5C/3 slip that you sold the car to the motor trade. On the day the driver checks the car against your description and your photo ID, then loads it. We pay by bank transfer to an account in your name once those checks are done.

Read our full guide to selling a broken car, see what happens after you send the reg, or ask for a firm price.